Ed: Is any one else here going to attend the ABC-USA biennial in Overland Park Kansas? I would be glad to see those that we have met in other places and any of you that we have not met. We will be at the Chase Suites Hotel Across the traffic circle from the Convention Center & Hotel. Or my cell phone # is 518-227-5527. We are making A lOOOoNG trip of it by visiting relatives in NJ, GA, Florida & Mo. We are also going to at least drive through the campus of Ouachita Baptist University in Arkansas. Yea Flick that is the other OBU. We are also going to take in a show or two at Branson MO. on the way.

I am looking forward to the Tour of Central Baptist Seminary that Molly has scheduled.

Can't make it. Would love to. Haven't been in KS since I was a kid. My main memory of it is being on the Kansas Turnpike; I was in charge of the map, and I told my dad which exit to take and he didn't believe me, and drove maybe twenty miles out of our way before he could turn around, and then he got mad at me for it. I think he'd used his nasal inhaler too much that day.

Ed: Since having had breakfast with Neil last saturday, we traveled through Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Missouri, to arrive in Kansas on Theursday afternoon. The Chase Hotel & Suits is Luxury Plus. LR?BR full Kitchen, geat bath and dressing area.

Yesterday we took a tour out to Central Seminary and Molly introduced us to a number of students, the director of the Korean program gave an overvier of the 7 programs they have operating around the country, One is in my Home town of Fort Wayne In.. Latter in the dat we took another tour to the Negro Baseball Musuem and the Jazz Musuem . The opening worship servive featured AMY Butler Preaching. More later. 1,285 registered

Being out of the loop on the ABC now, I was was just curious why the Biennial as been renamed "Mission Summit" and why it has be in Kansas what seems to be two years in a row? Or maybe I missed the year in between? But I am curious why the same location twice?

Pasadena was my last Biennial and I realize a number of things have changed in the five years I've been out.

The terms Biennial and Missions Conference are used pretty much interchangeably. But the design has changed some from denominational politics to discussion and interchange of ideas on ways to accomplish God's mission through the local church in new less repetitive ways.

Two consecutive times in KC is because the Overland Park Convention Center made us a great deal for each of two years over just one. Still too much packed into three days. Tiring but fun. Today we had 2.5 hours of small group discussions on ones choice of ONE of several aspects of local church ministry. I was in a group discussing Alternative ways for churches to do ministry. Trudy's group discussed discipleship methods.

Haruo wrote:Can't make it. Would love to. Haven't been in KS since I was a kid. My main memory of it is being on the Kansas Turnpike; I was in charge of the map, and I told my dad which exit to take and he didn't believe me, and drove maybe twenty miles out of our way before he could turn around, and then he got mad at me for it. I think he'd used his nasal inhaler too much that day.

ED: Hauro: Put in your request for 2017 time off, the Biennial will be in SEATTLE. Check the ABC/USA website.

2017 Portland, not Seattle, I am told. Several hundred miles difference, but I'll almost certainly be there. Maybe Mrs. H. too! I have a brother in Portland, so with a little luck should be able to stay for free. Maybe I can get a KELI table together.

Haruo wrote:2017 Portland, not Seattle, I am told. Several hundred miles difference, but I'll almost certainly be there. Maybe Mrs. H. too! I have a brother in Portland, so with a little luck should be able to stay for free. Maybe I can get a KELI table together.

Thanks for the correction, re; location.

Ed: The 2015 Biennial is in the books. A proposed amendment to the constitution that would have more narrowly defined our view of scripture to specify 66 books and including the term infallibility, was not sent forward for consideration at the 2017 meeting. No actual count was taken but from our vantage point, I would estimate the show of voting cards to have been 9 to 1. The three featured Preachers for worship on Fri, Sat & Sunday where Any Butler, Roy Medley and Don NG. I have heard Amy deliver more stimulating messages. Roy's final Biennial Sermon as ABC/USA General Secretary was outstanding, Ng the outgoing President was well received. Trudy and I attended 2 sessions of the Young Preachers Festival and heard 5 sermons. All where very well done 2 where outstanding, one of the best by a young lady who just graduated from High School this spring.

NYS was well represented with reps from the extreme, east all the way to Buffalo.

Haruo wrote:So who's going to be Pope now that Medley has abdicated? And is a new president in hand? I was very happy to hear the Chin and Karen groups were successfully affiliated.

And the 9 to 1, was that 9 not to send it to Portland or 9 to send it forward? Where in ABC did that proposal originate?

Ed: Not to send. Was I not clear about that? It originated on the floor by the pastor of a church in PA that was founded in the late 1700's. BTW, I voted with the majority.

And Hauro, I think you needed a TIC emoticon with you question about Roy's sucessor. I have never known a less Pope Like Denominational leader.

But in reply to the substantive part of the question the search for a replacement in the General Secretaries position has been put on hold. An interim has been appointed by the General Board. I do not know that persons name although it was announced from the platform.

The stated reason for the delay is that "the Integrity of the search process was compromised by the leaking personal information by a member of the search committee". I was surprised to hear that this issue had not yet been resolved. I have no additional details.

And I was not aware that the NBC dinner was cancelled, probably not enough signed up. The two or three time I passed their booth it was unmanned. We are rather selective as to which breakfast or dinners we attend due to the rather exorbitant cost. Our Hotel the Chase Hotel and Suites, provided a good breakfast included in the price of the room. However we did attend the Historical Society breakfast. ADDED at 3:30 PM Trudy just got home from the church, she says she thought she saw a sign in front of one rooms in the convention center saying that the dinner was going to be there.

And Hauro I am wondering if you have a copy of a "Negro Baptist Hymnal" published in the early 1900's? It was for sale at the Judson Press booth. I may not have the exact title it may be a bit longer.